February 27, 2006

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114/ (901) 619-1899

SOUTHWEST BASEBALL TEAM LOSES TO VOL, RETURNS HOME THIS WEEKEND FOR CONFERENCE SERIES
Release written by Keith Gentry

The Southwest baseball team lost all three games in a weekend series against Volunteer State in Gallatin, Tennessee over the weekend dropping its record to 8-5 overall and 1-4 in the TJCCAA.

In game one, Southwest could muster only two hits in a 7-1 loss. After giving up four runs in the first inning, starting pitcher Jason Adams settled down to allow no runs over the next six innings. Adams allowed nine hits and struck out eight in 7-1/3 innings.

In the first game of Saturday’s twin-bill, Vol State again jumped on top early with five runs in the first inning in a 12-3 win over Southwest. Derrick McBride drove in two of the Saluqis’ three runs with a double in the third inning.

The final game of the series was much closer with Vol State winning 4-3 despite a solid pitching performance by Southwest’s Ivan Nails. Nails, who signed to play at Southeast Missouri State University next season, scattered seven hits and struck out six batters in five innings of work. Top hitters for the Saluqis were Preston Burleson, who had two hits and drove in a run, and Jon Thurston who hit a solo home run.

Southwest returns to action on Tuesday, February 28 when the Saluqis play Northwest-Shoals in a 2 p.m. single game in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This weekend, Southwest returns home to host Cleveland State in a three-game conference series. On Friday, March 3 the teams will play a 2 p.m. single game at AutoZone Park, followed by a noon doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 at Tony Gagliano Memorial Field.